Formal modeling of Indian logic II

25. Okt 2012 - 27. Okt 2012

KJC, Room 212

Debate among experts – physicians, religious teachers, philosophers – is an integral feature of intellectual life in ancient India. In philosophical literature, argumentation frequently proceeds in the manner of an imaginary dialogue between proponent and opponent.

This interdisciplinary workshop is organized in connection with a pending research project on practices of argumentation from a transcultural perspective at the Cluster of Excellence “Asia and Europe in a Global Context.” A group of experts in argumentation theory and Sanskritists will discuss the utility of recent technical developments in mathematical logic and computer science for approaching the dynamic, dialogical and procedural features of reasoning which are central to classical Indian learned discourse. After a round of papers and discussions to prepare a common ground, sections from Ratnakīrti's “Refutation of the Proof of God” (Īśvarasādhanadūṣaṇa) will be approached as a case-study. This 11th century Buddhist treatise aims to disprove the existence of a creator god; the text will be available in English translation from the original Sanskrit.

Saturday, 27 October

10:30-12:00: Continuation of text reading and/or final discussion12:00-13:00: LunchDepending on common interest, discussion can be continued after the lunch break, at the KJC or on a leisurely walk up the philosopher’s path